Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) – Cam Ward made 31 saves and Jon Matsumoto scored twice in the Carolina Hurricanes’ resounding 7-2 win over the slumping New York Islanders.
Eric Staal, Brandon Sutter, Joe Corvo, Jiri Tlusty and Jeff Skinner also tallied for Carolina, which avoided their third straight loss.
Michael Grabner and P.A. Parenteau both lit the lamp for the Islanders, who have dropped five in a row. Rick DiPietro was beaten seven times on 32 shots.
After having been shut out in their first two games at the RBC Center this season, the Hurricanes tickled the twine three times in the opening period on Wednesday.
A misplay behind his own net cost DiPietro and the Islanders on the first Carolina goal. Following the turnover, DiPietro collided with a teammate as he scrambled to get back into position and Corvo fired a slap shot into the half- empty cage at the 10:12 mark.
Matsumoto tipped in a Sergei Samsonov pass for his first NHL tally with 4:12 remaining, and Staal unloaded a one-timer from the between the circles to make it 3-0 with 69 seconds to play.
Sutter and Tlusty scored 43 seconds apart midway through the second period for the Hurricanes.
Grabner spoiled Ward’s shutout bid 2:12 into the third period. Skinner, the seventh-overall pick in the 2010 draft, netted a power-play goal at 10:09 before Parenteau scored while Carolina defenseman Anton Babchuk served a hooking penalty with 4:31 to play.
Matsumoto added his second goal in the final minute of regulation.
Game Notes
Staal moved into sole possession of fifth place on the franchise’s all-time goal list (197)…Samsonov collected three assists, while Tom Kostopoulos and Chad LaRose each had two helpers for the Hurricanes…Carolina improved to 7-0-2 in its last nine games against the Islanders…New York forward Rob Schremp made his season debut after missing the first 11 games with a back injury.